Alvaro Noriega is a Colombian born catcher who found his way to the Dominican Republic looking to develop and showcase his tools. Noriega was discovered by Miguel Delgado two years ago in Colombia. Delgado made arrangements to get Noriega to his development program in the Dominican Republic where he trained and played in the Dominican Prospect League. For the past two years Noriega has been away from his home in an unfamiliar country in hopes he can achieve his dream of signing a professional contract. During his time in Dominican Republic, he showed the desire and mental toughness to keep his focus on developing his skills. Through the process Miguel Delgado was his trainer, friend and father figure, the road wasn’t easy to travel but for Noriega it has all paid off.

Delgado has shown fruits of his development program in 2011 also signing RHP Jesus Lugo and Colombian born RHP Nadir Crismatt with the NY Mets, and Outfielder Francisco Tejada with Toronto. Noriega becomes his latest sign, agreeing to terms with the New York Yankees for $175,000.

Noriega was the best catching prospect in the 2010-2011 DPL season, he showed major improvement in blocking, receiving and throwing accuracy behind the dish. Noriega is approximately 6’1, 180lb, he has a projectable body and prototypical frame for the position, he’s athletic and has the flexibility needed to develop. He shows solid average to plus arm strength and quick release. He has the offensive ability to compete against notable pitching, frequently getting solid contacts, gap to gap with occasional power; he shows a polish approach for his age, although having pull power he focuses to be inside the ball. His swing is a short stroke with good bat speed and balance; Noriega was selected to both DPL All-Star Games, as well as The DPL Elite Travel team but for reasons of travel documentation the Colombian born catcher couldn’t make the trip to the US.

The above photograph captures the first time I ever met Brandon Laird. It was last year’s Media Day at Waterfront Park, and Laird was a not too particularly highly touted third base prospect who was coming off a solid season in High-A Tampa. He was also coming off of an off-season in which he made headlines for the wrong reasons, allegedly getting involved in an altercation at a Phoenix Suns game with his big league catcher brother, Gerald.

Which meant there were some tough questions I had to ask…which isn’t really the impression you want to make the first time you meet a guy.

But Laird, just 22 years old at the time, was a true pro about it and answered every question without issue. After everything was over, I approached Laird and thanked him for being cool about everything and that I didn’t particularly enjoy asking those questions, and he said he understood and that he knew I had a job to do. Since that day, I’ve been able to build a nice relationship with Brandon, who has always been giving of his time with myself and other reporters.

Despite concerns about athleticism and playing a position that will seemingly be locked down for years in the Bronx, Laird perservered and batted his way to the big leagues, boosted largely by a 2010 season that saw him take Eastern League MVP honors despite being called up to Triple-A Scranton at the end of July. Laird batted .291 in 107 games as the Thunder’s everyday third baseman, adding 23 home runs and 90 RBI along the way.

Laird struggled initially in Scranton at the tail end of last season, hitting just .246, but flourished at times this season and earned his first big league call-up in the middle of July.

“We were in Lehigh Valley, and after the game, Dave Miley called me in and said, ‘You’re going up, go help that team win,’” Laird recalled.

“It’s exciting to be up again and to be up for a full month and get experience in the big leagues.”

Laird played in four straight games in his initial call-up, collecting his first big league hit and RBI in his first at-bat on July 22. He was sent down at the end of the month and stayed in Scranton for the remainder of their season before returning to the big leagues. But he says that brief first stint was beneficial to his latest recall.

“I was actually talking about that with Eric Chavez the other day in BP, about how the second time up was a little easier for me,” Laird said.

“I’ve been through it already and got the nerves out of the way. I’m pretty sure that when I go in, I’ll still be a little nervous, but I know what to look for and I’ve been here. It helps a lot, and being around these guys before helps also.”

Of course, a glance around the spacious Yankees clubhouse reveals that “these guys” are…well, more than just “these guys” to a lot of people. There’s Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera and so on…all these star players. And then there’s little known Brandon Laird, whose locker is next to media darling Jesus Montero and far away from the bigger name players at the far end of the blue carpeted palace. Laird said his goals for this month are to use it as a learning experience, asking as many questions as he can to his more experienced teammates.

“Growing up, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter were guys I always looked up to. Jeter, just how he carries himself, he’s a class act in everything he does. When he’s hitting and taking ground balls, I’m always watching him. I’m just trying to get better and help myself.”

I asked Laird if he was still a little nervous going up to guys like Jeter and A-Rod.

“In spring training, I was a little in shock. I was afraid to go up to them, but they’re very approachable,” Laird told me.

“Now, being around them for a while, they joke with you. Derek’s always joking with me. It’s exciting, it makes me feel good. He likes to help the young guys, he’s been there. To just learn from a guy like that, it’s awesome.”

Before the year began, I wrote a profile on Brett Marshall saying that in 2011, he needed to stay healthy and show he can handle a full season’s workload. Certainly, he’s accomplished at least that much:

Fangraphs doesn’t show it, but Baseball Prospectus has his GB% at 56%, the highest it’s been in a full season yet. What’s great to note here is that Marshall has almost doubled his previous years workload without any particularly negative effects. You would expect him to run into some fatigue in the second half of his year but that wasn’t the case. Over at Scouting the Sally, they had this note about Marshall’s second half performance:

A closer look at Marshall’s second half numbers paint an even more impressive picture. Over 66 2/3 second half innings, Marshall raised his strikeout totals above eight-per-nine and saw walk totals drop to a touch over two-per-nine. Add to this a GO/AO over two and it creates a lethal mixture for opposing hitters to the tune of a 2.50 second half FIP.

That’s obviously great to hear. It’s good to see that not only is Marshall still missing bats, but his 2-seam fastball is still keeping the ball on the ground more often than not.

Marshall will presumably be pitching in AA next year at the age of 22. He’s certainly one to watch.

2011 Minor League Ball Interesting Short-Season Hitting Prospects

Mason Williams, OF, Yankees: Fourth round pick in 2010 from high school in Florida showed exciting tools while hitting .349/.395/.468 in the New York-Penn League, stealing 28 bases. Good throwing arm, center field range, and overall athleticism are big positives, making him one of the most intriguing young outfielders to watch in full-season ball next year.

Yankees Prospect Brett Marshall Still Flying Under The Radar

After the 2010 season, Brett Marshall received “The Works” treatment on Scouting The Sally including a game report with video. Throughout the video, his motion appears cleaned up from video posted in high school prior to Tommy John surgery. More compact and repeatable, Marshall has made adjustments to limit the strain on his elbow which was previously apparent. And while the report hinted at a breakout season, little has been written about the young right-hander. Based on the numbers, was 2011 a breakout year for Marshall?

In the Florida State league this season, Brett Marshall finished in the top-12 in earned run average, strikeouts and WHIP over 140 1/3 innings pitched. Other peripherals include a seven-plus K/9 rate and 55% GB% which combine to form a strong indicator for future success. His BB/9 is still a touch above three and remains an area for improvement overall.

A closer look at Marshall’s second half numbers paint an even more impressive picture. Over 66 2/3 second half innings, Marshall raised his strikeout totals above eight-per-nine and saw walk totals drop to a touch over two-per-nine. Add to this a GO/AO over two and it creates a lethal mixture for opposing hitters to the tune of a 2.50 second half FIP.

Marshall’s ground ball tendencies also improve with runners on base pointing to a pitcher with a developing understanding of how to work out of jams. However, his strikeout rates subsequently drop (which to be expected), but still speaks to a lack of a true swing-and-miss offering.

If Marshall’s improved walk numbers are due to better fastball command, then he is learning how to harness the excellent fastball movement Mike previously reported from late in the 2010 season. It’s great to be able to cut, run or sink a low-90′s fastball, but commanding it well is what often leads to the unraveling of a pitching prospect. Double-A will be an excellent test of whether Marshall’s raw stuff is truly legit, or if he’s simply more advanced than the advanced-A level competition he matched up against.

Stuff aside, Marshall’s greatest accomplishment was the 140 1/3 innings he was able to tally as part of a completely healthy season. Last year he totaled only 84 innings combined across the Gulf Coast League, Charleston Riverdogs and Tampa Yankees.

In his second full year back from Tommy John surgery, it’s easy to speculate Marshall’s second half numbers are closer to his true talent level since command is the last part of a pitcher’s game to return from the surgery. A repeat of his second half numbers in double-A Trenton, and Marshall could find himself on the fast track to New York. Based on his 2011 season, Marshall has done nothing to dissuade me from believing his top end projection is that of a solid number three starter. Instead of the “Killer B’s”, New York Yankees fans need to coin a new nickname to include Brett Marshall. How about “B&M Baked Beans”?

2011 Draft Sleepers: American League East

Here is a look at some sleepers from the 2011 draft. Qualifications: I'm not writing about anyone drafted earlier than the sixth round. That's arbitrary but I'm trying to look for players who didn't get a lot of hype but who can surprise us. I'm also trying to avoid players who got massive above-slot bonuses; they aren't really sleepers.

NEW YORK YANKEES: Justin James, OF: Son of Dion James, drafted in the 12th round from Sacramento Community College. He is very raw, has some swing issues, and hit just .230/.348/.311 in the Gulf Coast League, but he'll already take a walk, hits left-handed, and has speed/power potential in a large 6-5, 230 frame.

I’ve been thinking about something that caught my eye last week for quite some time now. After Baseball America proclaimed Dante Bichette Jr. the top prospect in the 2011 GCL league, which we all knew was coming, they added a surprise in their sub-only scouting report. BA’s Ben Badler tagged Bichette with the “plus-plus power” label, something we haven’t yet heard about Bichette.

When the Yankees drafted Dante Bichette, those familiar with him were universally underwhelmed by his physical talents. No one was willing to deny that he had superb coaching, good bloodlines, and a very advanced approach to the plate for a high school hitter. However, almost any good MLB player needs to back attributes like those up with a little muscle, agility, and natural talent, and Bichette didn’t appear to have a ton of that held in reserve. Even after hitting a very impressive .342/.446/.505, with (pro-rated to 155 games) the equivalent of 51 doubles, 9 triples and 9 home runs, plus a 12.5% BB%, in his debut, a lot of followers (and I partially include myself in this group) still want to see what Bichette does against more experienced talent before pronouncing him the next top Yankee prospect. Bichette has had excellent coaching, but that competitive edge will be less important as his peers in the minor leagues gain more professional experience with professional coaching staffs.

That is to say, the common interpretation of Bichette’s GCL performance was that despite his age, he was playing on an unfair playing field. He had a lot of hits, including a lot for extra bases, but those hits were a product of technique and approach rather than raw physical talent – essentially the opposite reaction we had when Jesus Montero was this age. But when a publication like Baseball America, who tend to be pretty precise with their wording about this sort of thing, starts calling Dante Bichette a plus-plus power prospect (30 HR or more, .530+ Slg), things change.

If Dante Bichette can hit for that kind of power, draw walks, play third base (which he did pretty well this season), and retain a smooth, contact-friendly swing, then we’re all dramatically underrating him as a prospect. In his post-ranking chat, Badler repeatedly described Dante as a prospect with tons of raw power, and with a higher ceiling than Ravel Santana, a guy with Superman-like tools. Badler gets his information essentially by talking to scouts and coaches from around the GCL league, synthesizing their opinions into one solid scouting report and ranking. Everyone he talked to was very impressed with all aspects of Bichette’s game.

Given that just three months ago a lot of the same type of people were describing the Yankees pick as somewhere in between “safe” and “a reach”, what happened here? I think there are two possibilities. One is that the original consensus about Bichette should still hold (He’s got average tools but coaching beyond his years), and we can expect his growth to slow compared to his peers, and that the reports out of the league are the result of a performance-induced confirmation bias. That doesn’t mean that Dante is a bad prospect, just that he isn’t the next Sanchez/Montero mega-prospect, but rather a guy who is more in the Cito Culver / Brett Gardner / Austin Romine range. The other possibility is that the Yankees legitimately uncovered a player who was severely underrated by the rest of the league, and Dante Bichette has all-star potential. In that case, Dante will have the all-star physical abilities to back up his advanced plate approach, professional attitude, bloodlines, etc and take his game to another level next season.

I’m betting on some mix of the two. Bichette crushed a bunch of pitchers who, by nature of their age and newness to professional baseball, are playing on a different level than he likely was. That said, he still crushed them. He still did so at the age of 18, and still adjusted to the league after a very difficult first few weeks. Those are good things, and signs of the future. Advanced plate approaches can be the result of coaching, or they could be the result of the sort of sound baseball instincts that not even all MLB players possess. Growth is the real key. Will he keep getting better? That’s what Bichette has to answer in Charleston next year. I’m willing to bet that he has more physical ability than people were betting when he was drafted, but 65+ power? We’ll see.

On another note, we could be seeing Tyler Austin, Dante Bichette, Mason Williams, Angelo Gumbs, Cito Culver and possibly Gary Sanchez start for Charleston next year. Wow. I wouldn’t want to be a pitcher in that division.

Williams and Culver would probably be the only two on that list that rank in the Yankees top 10 prospects, and maybe even top 20, which shows the depth in their system right now.

It’s easy to see why too. Williams seems like a true star in the making. He hit .349 with a .863 OPS in Staten Island this year. He was touted as a 4-tool prospect coming into this season, but his .468 slugging certainly suggests that he could be a true 5-tool player.

Culver doesn’t stand out as star caliber just yet, but he has the makings of a very solid major leaguer. He hit just .250 with a .660 OPS, but he showed promise that he could improve and shows a real knack defensively. Imagine if Ramiro Pena could actually hit.

BRONX, N.Y. — Yes, that was Dellin Betances starting for the Yankees in Tampa in their last game of the regular season. It was, if only to New York and none of the other teams involved, a meaningless outing.

For Betances, however, it was somewhat of a predictable one. Well, sort of.

Betances was asked on Trenton Thunder media day, before his season in Double-A had even started, if he thought ending his year in pinstripes was a realistic goal.

“I feel like that’s definitely my dream, to become a New York Yankee, to be able to wear the pinstripes and help them win,” said Betances on April 5th.

“I want to stay there and have a great major league career. I feel like this year, if I do what I have to do as far as being consistent, I feel like I have a good chance of being there.”

Fast forward to early September, and the 6 foot-8 inch tall, hard-throwing righty was summoned to the big leagues for the first time somewhat unexpectedly, despite his status on the 40-man roster.

“After the last game in Scranton, they called a couple guys into the office,” said Betances of finding out his fate.

“I wasn’t expecting that. They mentioned my name, and it was one of those feelings where I didn’t believe it. I didn’t soak it in until I took my flight to California in Orange County. But it’s definitely great to be here, just growing up as a fan and watching these guys play. To wear the same uniform is honestly unbelievable.”

Betances joined the team on the road in Anaheim, but didn’t make his Major League debut until a September 22 appearance at home against the Rays. I spoke to the New York native one day before that debut, and asked him what it meant to him to walk into the Yankees clubhouse and see a jersey with pinstripes and his number on it hanging in a locker that belonged to him.

“Man, I can’t even describe it to you, it’s just great,” he said.

“It’s a great feeling. I’ve been waiting since I got drafted to play here, and now to be up here and to get the chance to watch all these guys go about their work and business, it’s great. I love being here, and I’ve got to just keep working hard so I can get the chance to get back.”

A chance to get back seems very realistic for Betances, even if there were days at Waterfront Park this season when he wasn’t sure if his Media Day prediction would come true. Betances was, at times, absolutely dominant for the Thunder in his 105 1/3 innings. But those 105 1/3 frames came over the course of 21 starts, leaving him just barely averaging five innings per start, which can be directly attributed to lapses in command.

“I always thought I had a chance to come up, especially being on the 40-man roster. That made it a little easier,” he said.

“But still, at the end of the season, it was one of those things that I wasn’t really expecting. There was talk that my innings were up, so I wasn’t expecting it. It did catch me by surprise.”

Something else that caught people by surprise were Betances struggles in Triple-A, as he went 0-3 with a 5.14 ERA in his four starts with Scranton, walking 15 batters in 21 innings of work.

“I had two good starts, and two not so good there,” Betances said.

“It was just like the whole year, up and down. I’m just trying to come out here and do whatever I can do and take whatever I can into the offseason and work hard. Scranton was definitely good as well, and I feel like I learned some things from Scott Aldred, just about how to pitch. I felt great while I was there, but I had a couple bad ones where it was one of those things.”

It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility, given the unstable nature of the Yankees starting rotation going forward, that Betances may very well have thrown his last pitch in Triple-A. Once again, Betances was asked about the big leagues, and if that was a realistic goal for him come Opening Day in 2012.

“I would love to be back here,” he said.

“I know I have to work hard. This is going to be a big off-season for me. I feel like next year will be a big year for me. I’m anxious, I can’t wait to come back. The season’s not over, but I can’t wait to work hard in the off-season and come back next year and have a great year.”

But a great year — whether it be in Triple-A, the big leagues or elsewhere — won’t happen for Betances without consistency, and his focus this off-season will be to work on improving in that area.

“I feel like that’s one of the things that hurt me this year, just being able to go out there every five days and throw from the same arm slot and release point. I just need to work hard and do a lot of work. I’m going to try to keep throwing twice a week to make sure I have the same release point. I learned a lot this year with my first time in spring training and it being my first full year healthy. It was my goal to pitch the whole year, and I missed a few starts because of a blister, but it wasn’t arm-related. That